Years Ago The following is an extract from the speech by Sir Godfrey Baring, Bt (Chairman of the RNLI, 1923-56) at the 1935 Annual General Meeting and reported in THE LIFEBOAT of June 1935.

and then had to go on to New Brighton, Wallasey, and various places on the other side of the Mersey. I was driven by Mr.

Harris, who is on "our platform and who is going to second a resolution later on. Being above all things law-abiding citizens we never exceeded during the long drive the speed of 29 miles 1,759 yards. We had a good many appointments to keep. We were a little late for those appointments. But we had a delightful drive and during the whole time we called down silent and, indeed, sometimes vocal blessings on the Minister's head.

(Laughter.) I am sure he will be gratified to hear of those two personal incidents, but seriously, Ladies and Gentlemen, we do admire the courage, the resource and the persistence with which he is tackling this most difficult _ _ j :„_ _._;gtjon Qj accj()ents on the I am sure I am expressing the feeling of everyone in this hall when I say how much we welcome the presence here to-day of the Minister of Transport, Mr. Hore-Bclisha.

(Applause.) May I relate to the Minister two little incidents which I have experienced in the last week or so, which I am sure will give him pleasure ? We have a store-yard in Poplar and I should like many of the Governors to visit it, because it is admirably run and managed. In that store-yard, we have an entrance yard, I think about 120 feet across. The other day a desperate criminal rode a motor bicycle into that yard at a speed which was estimated by competent observers at quite seven miles an hour. Within twenty-four hours of his crime a large poster, beautifully got-up, with a representation of a black and white post with an orange top, was placed outside the yard with a stern warning that no one must enter in a motor at more than walking pace.

(Laughter.) I think that will show the Minister that his beneficent influence has reached even the recesses of Poplar.

Only a few days ago I was on a life-boat mission, spoke at Liverpool in the morning.

and menacing question of accidents on the roads ; and I think it specially appropriate that one who is saving life on the roads should speak at the annual meeting of the Institution whose proud boast it is that its life-boats and life-boatmen have saved, during the 111 years of its history, over 64,000 lives from shipwreck at sea. (Applause.) . . . and this is an extract from Mr L. Hore Belisha's reply: A hundred years ago, when the Royal National Life-boat Institution was founded, as many as 3,000 to 5,000 persons were drowned in a year in British territorial waters.

To-day, owing to the improved construction of ships, to the regulations for safety made by the Board of Trade and principally the efficiency of your service, the worthiness of your boats and the gallantry of your men and women, only about thirty to forty persons, I am told, perish annually in these waters. (Applause.) In other words, the perils, the mortal perils of our coasts, have diminished in a century a hundred-fold. The life-boat service has given rewards for the rescue of 64,000 lives in the period. Now the dependants of evenone of these persons would have to be provided for either by the State, by insurance moneys, or otherwise. Assuming the capital sum required to make good to the widow or other dependant the loss of support given by each one of the persons who have been saved to be the nominal amount of £1,000—it is, of course, much more—the value of the lives you have saved in 100 years is £64,000,000.

But in the last ten years, we have lost about the same number "of people on the roads, to say nothing of the million and threequarters persons who have been injured.

You can make a calculation, therefore, of the economic loss brought to the nation by these casualties.

If, therefore, I come here, it is to capture something of the spirit of the sea. To save a life you risk a life—or more. The lifeboatman, to save a life, puts at hazard not only himself, but his family. He strains his endurance. He faces the storm in its most inclement mood. He displays the quality of courage and the virtue of discipline in the most exacting circumstances — voluntarily. Why ? Because of the chivalry of the sea. And the public support his work and should support his work, by their contributions. Why ? Because the humanitarian instincts of the people are so strong that they cannot bear the contemplation of untimely death or unmerited suffering.

But a life is worth as much spiritually and materially whether it be lost by sea or on the roads. What effort, what self-sacrifice, what goodness of nature to save a life at sea ! But on land attempts to save life which call, not for bravery, or hardship, but merely for decency and courtesy, are often regarded as restrictions on convenience, and interference with liberty, and. therefore, to be resisted. I am happy to say that through the exercise of these virtues, together with the measures we are taking, we have, during the first three months of this year, as compared with the same period last year.

effected a reduction of no less than 2.843 in the number of persons killed and injured on our roads. (Applause.) The significance of this figure is enhanced when it is remembered that there are over a quarter of a million more motor vehicles this year than last.

To save lives on the roads it is not valour that is needed, but just thoughtfulness. It is not inappropriate, therefore, that I should come to you in admiration and. if you will, in envy, hoping that this meeting will not only bring the financial support which your great cause deserves, but will spread throughout the nation a respect for human life and a concerted determination to save it. whether it be imperilled by the storms of the sea or by the inconsidefateness of men on land.

I move this resolution which thanks the coxswains and crews of your life-boats and the help rendered to the cause by your local committees, honorary secretaries and honorary treasurers combined in the noblest of all "works. (Loud Applause.).